Bill Wixey's keys to the Seahawks season opener against Dolphins

SEATTLE -- Q13 News anchor and verified Seahawks encyclopedia Bill Wixey loves talking schemes, coverages and gameplay.

For those who aren't die-hard 12s, Wixey's knowledge can be a bit overwhelming.  But for those who love the X's and O's, it's great insight into the game.

We asked Bill to simplify and synthesize some of his ideas for Seahawks success. Here are his keys to the game for the Seahawks season opener against the Dolphins Sunday at CenturyLink Field.

Control the Line of Scrimmage -- The Seahawks are shuffling their offensive line after Guard Germain Ifedi went down with a high ankle sprain this week. This is going to be a huge challenge for the Seahawks O-line against a very good defensive front for the Dolphins. Chris McCain, Ndamukong Suh, Mario Williams and others will have Russell Wilson in their sights. It's up to the O-line to protect him early, or it could be a long game.

Caution Against Over Aggressiveness -- This will be the first chance for most of the first team offense and defense to see significant playing time. The defensive players in particular are going to be anxious to hit somebody. There are bound to be missed assignments in the first game of the season. It will be important for the players to keep their emotions in check, and focus on playing their position and avoiding giving up the big play.

Establish the Running game (And utilize a limited Graham) -- Christine Michael is going to get the start at running back for the Seahawks. You can expect to see both he and Thomas Rawls carrying the football. As we begin a new era without beast mode in the backfield, it's important for the Seahawks to establish the ground game and keep the Dolphins defense honest, allowing Russell Wilson and the offense to deliver the ball to the receivers, including tight end Jimmy Graham, who is making his return to the Seahawks lineup for the first time since being injured in week 11 of last season. It will be interesting to see how the Seahawks utilize Graham.

MORE: Dave and Aaron talk keys to Sunday's matchup